Department of Justice

United States Attorney James R. Dedrick Eastern District of Tennessee

JOSEPH DANIEL ADAMS ARRESTED FOR ATTEMPTED BANK ROBBERY

[KNOXVILLE, Tenn] —Joseph Daniel Adams, 31, of Greenback, Tennessee, was arrested this morning around 10:10 a.m. in Lenoir City by members of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) Safe Streets Task Force (including officers with the Knoxville Police Department and Knox County Sheriff’s Office), Lenoir City Police Department and Loudon County Sheriff’s Office on charges of using and carrying a firearm during and in relation to the attempted bank robbery of a branch of Branch Bank & Trust (BB&T) in Lenoir City, Tennessee.

An initial appearance is scheduled for today at 3:30 p.m. in United States District Court in Knoxville, Tennessee, before the Honorable C. Clifford Shirley, United States District Judge.

The details of the charges are outlined in the complaint and supporting affadavit, which are attached to this press release and are filed as public records in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Tennessee at Knoxville.

In summary, the affidavit alleges that Adams attempted to enter the bank this morning armed with a handgun and wearing a mask. Officers and agents representing all of the law enforcement agencies mentioned above were on surveillance at the bank at the time Adams attempted to commit the robbery. He was apprehended just after he got out of a vehicle headed toward the door of the bank with the gun in his hand.

Members of the public are reminded that these are only charges and that every person is presumed innocent until his/her guilt has been proven beyond a reasonable doubt.